could some one explain this term?

[chadtheman]

i am new to shooting and i see this term every where could some one please explain the phrase" tack driver"

 

[R.W.Dale]

It's just a reference to a really accurate rifle. IE I have a rifle that's accurate enough to drive tacks at 100yds. Usually accompanied with the phrase "all day long" or some variation thereof

 

[grilledcheese]

Extremely accurrate, no?

 

[glockman19]

"Tack (tac) Driver" = A tack being a very small, almost the size of most bullets, refers to the guns accuracy.

 

[chadtheman]

so would you consider a 788 a tack driver that shoots a 243

 

[R.W.Dale]

so would you consider a 788 a tack driver that shoots a 243

Depends on if it shoots good or not. The proof is on the paper not stamped on the BBL so to speak. I try not to make assumptions based on caliber and manufacturer, cause you can get a turkey with any brand.

 

[DMK]

so would you consider a 788 a tack driver that shoots a 243

If it can shoot all its shots into a 1/4" circle at 100 yards "all day long", then yes I would. (that's tongue in cheek, as it's a virtually impossible expectation )

It doesn't matter what kind of gun it is or what caliber it shoots. The term "Tack Driver" is meant to indicate that some particular gun will put all of its shots into a very small group at some reasonable distance.

Another term that you will see is "shoots like a laser beam", which is similarly impossible. Bullets just do not travel in straight lines like a laser.

 

[Coronach]

Right. The term, as understand it, originated from the idea (pure hyberole) that one could sight in on a tack on your target and reliably hit it, driving it into the backing. Hence, a rifle that would allow such accuracy would be termed a tack driver. Distance is assumed to be something standard, like 100 yds.

Of course, since there really aren't any rifle/ammo/shooter combos out there capable of doing this, the term is just generally associated with a very accurate gun. Since it has no real metric associated with it, it can vary between a rifle capable of real-world 1/2 MOA accuracy on up to "can hit broadside of barn, when shooting from inside barn", and eveything in between, depending on the honesty of the person spinning the yarn.

Mike

 

[chadtheman]

well i have had it at the range once it shoots like 1" groups if thats good or bad i dont know but i am in no way an experenced shooter

 

[WayneConrad]

See also, "can hit a fly."

See also, "fish story"

 

[rcmodel]

Believe it or not, but I used to have a 100 yard target with the remains of a fly splatted on it.

I told my buddy I was going to shoot the fly on my target, he said, "my azz"!
So I did it while he watched the fly through his spotting scope.
One shot, one kill!

It's no big trick to do it with an accurate rifle.

The hardest part is getting a fly to land on the target while you are load testing.

rcmodel

 

[Ward83]

I think it came from ranges where they use thumbtacks to pin the target to the backboard, and the ability to shoot those tacks from a distance. I can do it at 50 yards, haven't tried 100 yet.

 

[qajaq59]

well i have had it at the range once it shoots like 1" groups if thats good or bad i dont know but i am in no way an experenced shooter

Yup, I'd say that's good. And once you get enough practice, I'd venture to guess it WILL be a tack driver.

 

[foghornl]

See also "can shoot a dust mite off a flea @100Yds"

 

[BattleChimp Potemkin]

A term that uninformed gun owners use to describe the accuracy of their guns, usually BS. "My Hi-point is a real tack driver man", meaning, he didnt hit crap at 7 yards.

 

[Chipperman]

Bullets just do not travel in straight lines like a laser.

They do if you fire straight down.

 

[TimboKhan]

Of course, since there really aren't any rifle/ammo/shooter combos out there capable of doing this

Whoa, nelly. You should have said since there "aren't many", not "aren't any", as I know that if I can't hit the tacks on the target stands, I just throw the rifle in the trash, and then immediately come home and write a venomous screed about how I will never buy from that company again.

Thats just me though. I am awesome, most aren't.

 

[qajaq59]

"can hit a fly."

The Swiss actually have targets with flies on them. (No, not real ones. Pictures.) And they have shooting contests with them. I believe you can even buy them from someone over on the Swiss forum should you want to. That should shake up your shooting friends.

 

[rcmodel]

Knock yourself out!
http://www.targetz.com/targetzlib/20012.pdf

http://www.targetz.com/targetzlib/20015.pdf

http://accurateshooter.net/targets/targetflyshoot.pdf

rcmodel

 

[bigdaddydan]

so accurate that you could shoot out a gnats eye at 100 yards away if you could see it

 

[dagger dog]

Also a bughole shooter.

But just remember your rifle is the hammer to drive that tack, but you do the swinging of that hammer!

The tack driver name usually just implies a rifle capable of shooting small groups. It doesn't claim the pilot of said rifle can cut the mustard!

 

[qajaq59]

Thats just me though. I am awesome, most aren't.

And certainly humble as well....

 

[MinnMooney]

"Tack" : A small brad or nail with a head approx. 1/8"

I just wanted all the youngsters and non-handymen out to know what a "tack" is. We're not talkin' THUMB-tacks here we're talkin' like upholstery tacks that only have a very small head.
My grandpa explained "tack-driver" to me. He said that if you could start a tack into a tree and then drive it the rest of the way by hitting it with a bullet then you had a "tack-drivin' rifle". He forgot to mention any yardage requirement, though.

 

[chadtheman]

well i guess ill have to buy some bugs and some tacks and some other small objects that have no reason to be shot and ill let you know if its a tack driver or a bug killer or a nat duster lol thanks for the discriptions